Hi Folks,

It was a very disappointing weekend as I made three attempts for the
Franklin's Gull in Upper Marlboro (Thur., Sat., Sun.), without
success, but I was given a consolation prize on my way home yesterday
afternoon when I stopped at Sands Road Park in southern AA Co.  This
is where Hans Holbrook found Vesper Sparrow a few weeks ago.  I hiked
across the extensive grassy area of this former landfill to the far
edge where the habitat is now very weedy and marshy (rubber boots
would have been preferable to the hiking shoes I was wearing).  There
were loads of sparrows, mostly Songs and Savannahs, but I was given a
real treat when a NELSON'S SPARROW popped up into a small sapling,
giving me a satisfactory view for a few seconds.  It was of the
Atlantic subspecies.  This was in the vicinity of a small patch of
young phragmites, maybe four or five feet tall.  The area is much
wetter now than it was a few weeks ago when the Vesper Sparrow was
found here.  Also seen while crossing the extensive field of short
grass was one meadowlark.

A few fairly decent birds have shown up over the weekend in our
Ferndale yard in northern AA Co.  On Friday we had our first HERMIT
THRUSH of the season, and on Saturday our first FOX SPARROW.  Sunday
brought a flyover PEREGRINE FALCON, heading west over the yard towards
BWI Airport.  Both Saturday and Sunday I heard the beeping of a
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH in our spruce trees in the front yard--their
favorite roosting place during the winter two years ago.

I have a new email address for the purpose of receiving my MDOsprey
messages, but I am still maintaining my old address for all other
communications.

Stan Arnold
Ferndale (AA Co.)